Semi-automated crop production system

Abstract

A semi-automated crop production system featuring a growing module with grids of cells for growing plants and a lighting and airflow fixture positioned above each cell. The lighting and airflow fixtures feature a fan disposed in a housing, a light emitting diode (LED) assembly board comprising LEDs disposed below the fan; a light diffuser disposed below the LED assembly board, and an adjustable airflow nozzle extending downwardly from the fan and protruding through the LED assembly board and the light diffuser. The adjustable airflow nozzle provides directed airflow downwardly toward a bottom area of the housing. The growing module and lighting and airflow fixtures are housed in a shell. The growing module may be slidably attached to the interior wall of the shell via mounting components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) comprising:
 a. at least one modular growing unit ( 200 ), said modular growing unit comprising:
 i. a cultivation module ( 831 ) comprising a grid ( 220 ) comprising a plurality of cells ( 230 ) adapted to hold plants or other organisms; 
 ii. a plurality of lighting and airflow fixtures ( 300 ) positioned above the grid ( 220 ), each lighting and airflow fixture ( 300 ) comprising a plurality of LEDs or OLEDs ( 332 ) and a fan, wherein the fan ( 320 ) is positioned above the plurality of LEDs or OLEDs ( 332 ) and an adjustable airflow nozzle ( 350 ) extending downwardly from the fan and configured to direct airflow toward the plurality of cells ( 230 ); and 
 iii. a utility module ( 832 ); and 
 
 b. a shell comprising:
 i. an interior shell ( 110 ); 
 ii. an exterior shell ( 120 ); and 
 iii. a mounting component ( 140 ) disposed on a side wall of interior shell ( 112 ); 
 
 wherein at least one of said modular growing units ( 200 ) slidably engages the mounting component ( 140 ) of the interior shell ( 110 ) such that the modular growing unit ( 200 ) may be slidably removed from the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) further comprises a cloud farming system comprising:
 a. cloud software; 
 b. local cloud hardware ( 1180 ) disposed on the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ); and 
 c. remote cloud hardware; 
 wherein the cloud software and local cloud hardware ( 1180 ) receive, process, and transmit information to and from the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) and the remote cloud hardware. 
 
     
     
       3. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) is moveable by one or more methods selected from the group consisting of a truck, automobile, train, ship, plane, and spacecraft. 
     
     
       4. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 3 , wherein during transit, the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) may be electronically connected to the transporting vehicle in order to provide power to the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ), thereby allowing operation of the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) during transport. 
     
     
       5. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 3 , wherein during transit, the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) is electronically connected a transportable power source, wherein said transportable power source provides power to the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ), thereby allowing continued operation of the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) during transport. 
     
     
       6. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising insulation components, said insulation components insulating the interior of the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) from outside the environment. 
     
     
       7. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising insulation components, said insulation components insulating the exterior of the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) from inside the environment. 
     
     
       8. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical power required to power the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) is derived from an alternative energy source. 
     
     
       9. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 8 , wherein the alternative energy source used to power the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) is selected from one of the following energy sources:
 a. a solar power source; 
 b. a wind power source; 
 c. a geothermal power source; and 
 d. a kinetic energy power source. 
 
     
     
       10. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) further comprises one or more of:
 a. frame system irrigation components selected from the group consisting of connections to the irrigation system ( 410 ,  412 ), sterilizing system ( 450 ), injector boards ( 424 ), mixing tanks ( 426 ), and stock nutrient tanks ( 428 ); 
 b. frame system electrical components selected from the group consisting of lighting or power connectors ( 334 ), sensor arrays ( 240 ), lighting sources ( 270 ), electrical connections ( 280 ), and light bulb adapters ( 313 ); and 
 c. frame system gas distribution components selected from the group consisting of side air or gas ducts or channels ( 260 ), air flow or circulation devices ( 261 ), air circulation fans ( 282 ,  284 ), fans ( 320 ), air filters ( 323 ), adjustable airflow nozzles ( 350 ), and air compressors ( 422 ). 
 
     
     
       11. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the frame system is coated with a sterilizing coating. 
     
     
       12. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) further comprises a waste resource utilization system, said waste resource utilization system utilizing waste resources from an exogenous waste source, said waste resources comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of thermal energy, gases, water, and fertilizers. 
     
     
       13. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises a waste resource utilization system, said waste resource utilization system utilizing waste resources from an endogenous waste source, said waste resources comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of thermal energy, gases, water, fertilizer, chemical, and biological. 
     
     
       14. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises a filter system. 
     
     
       15. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises a filter system. 
     
     
       16. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system comprises insulating paint ( 147 ). 
     
     
       17. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises a grid ( 220 ) comprising a plurality of cells adapted to grow a crop. 
     
     
       18. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises a gas saturation system ( 450 ). 
     
     
       19. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises a LED strip ( 610 ). 
     
     
       20. The semi-automated crop production system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-automated crop production system further comprises: an irrigation system, comprising: an inlet connection ( 410 ) an outlet connection ( 412 ) and one or more of: a nutrient tank ( 426 ), a particulate filter ( 430 ), a heat exchanger ( 436 ), or a heat pump ( 438 ).